Grace ( Crisis ) adopts the style of a classical western in this memorable political thriller. Leading those who wear the white hats is Bolivian Navy Cmdr. Juan Carlos Guerrero, who stands virtually alone in refusing bribes to temper raids against cocaine factories. His nemesis is drug lord Lazaro Benitez, Guerrero's enemy from the days when both were students at a military academy. Because Benitez ``owns'' the president of Bolivia in addition to most of the military, Guerrero has not been able to hamper his drug operations when a series of violent events leads to the murder of a young soldier, Guerrero, knowing many in the military are furious that one of their own has been killed, believes the time is ripe for a showdown or, because this is Latin America, a coup. Guerrero surreptitiously tries to win the support of military branches while Benitez, hoping to extort the release of the murderer, the son of an important drug trafficker, hires Peruvian terrorists to take hostages at the U.S. embassy. Although inadvertently betrayed by an imbecile per web U.S. ambassador, Guerrero survives to lead his forces as La Paz turns into the O.K. Corral. (June)